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THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR, PART II…
By Anthony | April 30, 2009
Greetings,
After a hotly contested first round of the 2009 National Hockey League playoffs we’re on to round two.
First, some thoughts on my series and game-by-game predictions of the post season’s first 44 games and eight playoff rounds.
Overall, I won six of the opening round matchups, and went 31 and 13 in the individual games (yes, I picked against myself in some situations but not in elimination games).
The Boston, Detroit and Vancouver sweeps were not surprising. These teams outmatched their opponents when it mattered and for St. Louis and Columbus that wasn’t so bad as they are young teams with bright futures, but Montreal has quite a few internal issues.
Three other series were completed in six games, and that was where I suffered my only two defeats.
The Presidents’ Trophy, (emblematic of the best team in the regular season) San Jose Sharks, broke hearts in the Bay Area once again. This time the 8th seeded (not really) Anaheim Ducks took the honors and raised the already large number of observers questioning Joe Thornton’s prime time capabilities.
The barely legal Blackhawks from Chicago proved to be too fast, too tough and just too good for the plodding Calgary Flames, while, in the only one of the three six-gamers I got right, the Pittsburgh Penguins took care of the Philadelphia Flyers.
As for the two series that went the distance, the Carolina Hurricanes stunned the New Jersey Devils in one of the best playoff matchups in recent memory, as after the dust settled from seven grueling games, with one going overtime and one just 0.2 seconds from going sudden death, Eric Staal’s goal was all that separated the two teams statistically.
It just got better as it went on, and the way the ‘Canes won the decisive game 7 – two goals 48 seconds apart in the final 1:20 – totally shocked the rabid Devils fans who were so accustomed to their team coming out on top in those situations.
Big ups to coach Paul Maurice for switching players on the top line after they were ineffective, as the newly formed line of Staal, Ray Whitney and Chad Larose combined for 10 goals and 11 assists.
Finally, the Washington Capitals eventually solved Henrik Lundqvist and the New York Rangers lack of offense caught up with them.
Big ups to coach Bruce Boudreau for quickly relieving Jose Theodore from the net after the game one loss and inserting Simeon Varlamov, who allowed just 7 goals in the six games he played with two shutouts. Not bad for a guy with just five and a half hours of NHL experience entering the playoffs.
As for the Conference Semifinals:
Eastern Conference
(1)Boston vs. (6) Carolina
The Big Bad Bruins will prove to be just too much for the hard working never-say-die Hurricanes.
Boston is a tougher, physically larger version of the New Jersey Devils and even the stellar goaltending of Cam Ward won’t keep them from advancing to the conference finals for the first time since 1992.
Milan Lucic is emerging as one of the game’s top power forwards, as it just seems he’s getting better and better.
The B’s offensive balance – Michael Ryder, Phil Kessler with four goals each - and smothering defense – did not allow a power play goal in the four games against Montreal - will be the deciding factor here. Also, the amount of rest they’ve had in comparison to what the ‘Canes just endured will take a toll as well.
The only chance I give Carolina is if Ward totally outperforms Tim Thomas in net, and they need something from Erik Cole and Rod Brind’Amour – no points in the seven games vs. the Devils.
Bruins in five.
(2)Washington vs. (4) Pittsburgh
I really think the league was hoping this matchup would take place.
Alexander Ovechkin vs. Sidney Crosby.
The league’s two high profile players and their very talented supporting casts will be on display.
If this confrontation was taking place three months ago I would have hands down given the nod to the Caps, but since the Pens relieved Michel Therrien of his coaching duties in mid-February and brought in Dan Bylsma they have won 22 of 31 games.
Crosby and two-time scoring champion Evgeny Malkin found even another level of skill while everyone else raised their game’s as well.
The return of Sergei Gonchar on defense and the additions of Chris Kunitz and Bill Guerin gave Sid the Kid something to work with on his wings.
No better example of how far last year’s Stanley Cup runner-up has improved from their early season doldrums is the way they rallied from a 3-0 deficit in game six at Philadelphia to score five unanswered goals to wrap up the series.
Meanwhile, D.C. barely got by the offensively challenged Rangers and if they bring that same game to this series there will be no comeback.
I’m just not sure if they have enough of their skilled players willing to pay the price to advance.
One very interesting point here is that besides the Ovechkin-Crosby faceoff this series also puts to test the early season claims by Caps’ forward Alexander Semin that Pittsburgh’s number 87 is not as good as advertised.
From my point of view Crosby has proven that he is very good, and perhaps much more important this time of year is that he’s willing to get dirty to win and again I just don’t see it from enough key players on this Washington team, sans Alex Ovechkin.
Penguins in six.
Western Conference
(2) Detroit vs. (8) Anaheim
I have a strong feeling that a lot of those magnificent saves from playoff neophyte Jonas Hiller in the previous round’s upset of the top seeded San Jose Sharks will become goals when on the sticks of the Detroit Red Wings.
Surely, the Ducks are not your typical lowest seeded team to make the postseason and they have loads of experience on defense to perhaps circumvent Detroit’s offense, but who do you matchup Chris Pronger and Scott Niedermayer against? And where do you start?
In the sweep of Columbus, it was Dan Cleary, Jiri Hudler and Valteri Filippula who played key roles in administering the broom to the upstart Blue Jackets and not so much the statistical exploits of the highly skilled Pavel Datsyuk, Henrik Zetterberg, Marian Hossa, etc.
Yes, the return of Francois Beauchemin on their backline will help deal with Detroit’s steady stream of diverse offensive firepower, but is that enough?
Anaheim’s line of Ryan Getzlaf, Corey Perry and Bobby Ryan will be difficult to handle and I see them contributing to the Ducks two wins.
After that Detroit’s ability to keep the puck will frustrate the penalty-prone Ducks.
Detroit in five.
(3) Vancouver vs. (4) Chicago
This series really intrigues me as you have the young talented ‘Hawks against the young talented Canucks.
For Vancouver, Alex Burrows has done wonders for the Sedin twins, giving Henrik and Daniel speed and grit to go along with their awesome cycling skills.
Also, their defense is healthy and much more mobile than what Calgary presented.
For Chicago, the play of Patrick Sharp, Kris Versteeg and the already highly touted Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane at this level is quite impressive, but for them to advance the play of the grinders – Dustin Byfuglien and Ben Eager – will be key in giving them the room they need.
Roberto Luongo will be the difference here, as he is becoming the game’s best goaltender.
Looking forward to watching the fans at both of these arenas go crazy with excitement, so long as it is clean.
Vancouver in six.
There you have it.
I’m amped up about the next round and believe that the teams that can walk away from all the talking, chippy play and pseudo-machismo will be victorious, enjoy.
PEACE
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